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Test tubes for Hantavirus tests
South African airline, Airlink, has advised some of its crew members to stay home until further notice due to potential exposure to the hantavirus.
The airline says it was notified on Sunday last week that one of its passengers – who flew in one of Airlinks flight from St Helena to Johannesburg – had passed away due to the virus.
The Health Department says at least 62 people have been identified as possible contacts with infected persons.
𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 | 𝟬𝟲 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – The World Health Organisation and South African public health authorities are responding to a number of Hantavirus cases involving people on an Atlantic Ocean cruise ship. One of the ship’s passengers left the cruise at St… pic.twitter.com/a0DU6E9RmO
— Airlink (@Fly_Airlink) May 6, 2026
Airlink says there were at least 82 passengers, including the deceased, and six crew members onboard the flight. The passenger was part of a cruise ship, which experienced an outbreak of hantavirus.
The ship was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde.
Three people from the ship have since died.
Airlink’s Linden Birns says as of last night, health authorities had not instructed the crew or anyone to isolate, and they would only undergo observation if they started feeling unwell.
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